News of his death set off an avalanche of mourning messages on social media, with Vic Firth becoming a top trending item on Twitter, as percussionists recalled the sticks of the company he founded in 1963.

"My heart is broken. Thank you, Vic, for all you have contributed to the world of drumming," tweeted Chris Fryar of country stars the Zac Brown Band.

David Boughter of the Atlanta heavy metal band I'll Be an Empire tweeted: "RIP Vic Firth. I've played your sticks since I started drumming eight years ago and plan on using them for many, many more."

Born in Massachusetts, Everett "Vic" Firth had been performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and decided that sticks were being overlooked.

"It was not only the quality of drumsticks, it was the lack of variety of drumsticks that were being offered," he recalled.

"A drumstick has a configuration that gives it a response on the cymbals and on the drums," he said in an interview for the Messe Frankfurt trade fair.

"Its shape has an effect on the quality of the sound and even slight variations in the manufacturing process can greatly influence the result."